Memorial Day: Wild mustangs help veterans heal through Wyoming ranch program

While Memorial Day is a time for remembrance it can also be a complicated period for multiple veterans particularly those struggling with mental soundness A activity in Wyoming is helping to address those challenges by pairing veterans with wild mustangs in a unique approach to healing VETERANS DAY DENNIS QUAID TRACE ADKINS AMONG HOLLYWOOD STARS HONORING OUR MILITARYAccording to information from the U S Department of Veterans Affairs from to veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD depression and anxiety than civilians Each year approximately veterans die by suicide At selected point in their lives out of every veterans or will experience PTSD according to the U S Department of Veterans Affairs In the small town of Jay Em Wyoming a nonprofit called Operation Remount Corporation is offering a form of equine therapy that serves not only veterans and first responders but also the mustangs various of which come from traumatic backgrounds Karen Alexander co-founder of Operation Remount says particular mustangs also experience trauma and anxiety making the operation a form of reciprocal healing These are mustangs that went through three adoptions and were not accepted or not adopted Alexander declared When the mustangs first come they are very afraid of humans It s really neat to see when that animal eventually says I can trust you TRUMP SUPRISES -YEAR-OLD WWII VETERAN WITH BIRTHDAY MESSAGE AFTER VIRAL TIKTOK INVITE Veteran Sean Walker is one of this year's participants at Operation Remount He says joining the operation and meeting his horse nicknamed Spirit was needed after serving in the military Walker who completed two tours in Iraq and one in Bosnia with the Kansas National Guard says just a sparse weeks with his horse Spirit has already made a critical impact We call him Enduring Spirit Wind Walker announced He's taught me supposedly more than I could have possibly taught him After retiring from the military Walker commented reintegrating into civilian life was hard Like several other veterans he experienced mental healthcare challenges The operation in the past few days added a new red cabin to house participants during the six-week program It was built in honor of Marine Corps Sgt B J Shepperson who served two deployments and struggled with the transition back to civilian life in Wyoming Shepperson explained his brother B J loved horses and would have really appreciated what this scheme is doing to help other veterans After two deployments and coming back to Wyoming he had a hard time re-adjusting announced his brother Baxter Shepperson VETERAN ON MISSION TO COMBAT SUICIDE IN MILITARY COMMUNITYProgram leaders say they re working to construct more cabins allowing additional veterans and first responders to stay overnight during the campaign as they experience the therapeutic bond with a horse It s like when you detected a connection that you ve lost Walker declared It allows you to have that reconnection and Spirit has been that Operation Remount allows the veterans and first responders to keep the wild horse after completing the six-week unit The nonprofit holds sessions in both spring and fall CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe company at Operation Remount is now working toward building an indoor facility so they can offer the undertaking throughout the year even during Wyoming s harsh winter months